Peters



(No Model.)

J. HARRIS.

FENCE.

nfl, Patented May v15, 1888..y

N.- PETERS, Pnmo-Lnnognphar. wamwglm'. ne

UNITED ,STATESI PATENT OFFICE. l

JAMES HARRIS, OF COLUMBIA, MISSOURI.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part o'f Letters Patent No. 382,806, dated May 15, 1888.

Application iiled September 1'2, 1887.- Serinl No. 2749.485. (No model.) I

T aZZ` whom it may concern:

H represents a series of intermediate panels,

Be it known that I, JAMES HARRIS, a citieach of which is composed of a post, I, at one zen of the UnitedStates, residing at Columl end, a vertical bar, K, at the opposite end,

bia, in the county of Boone and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fences, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in 'portable fences; and it consists in the pecur'o liar construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter,

and particularly pointed-ont in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a 'portable fence embodying my im- 5 provements, showing the panels of the same arranged in a circle. Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view of two of the fence-panels.

A represents the initiaLpanel of the fence, which comprises a pair of vertical posts, B, having their lower ends pointed, and thereby adapted to be driven firmly into the ground.

O represents a pair of longitudinal bars or rails, which have their ends mortised into the posts B at suitable distances apart. On the outer sides of the said posts B are secured U- shaped keepers or staples D, and on the upper ends of the said posts are similar staples or keepers, E E. I

F represents a series of headed pins or nails, which are driven into the posts on one side thereof at suitable distances above and below the rails C. A wire, G, which maybe either barbed or plain, hasone end secured to one of the keepers E, is then stretched across the top of the panel and passed through the keeper E on the upper end of the opposite post, is then passed downward 4on the said post around the uppermost pin or nail, F, is stretched from the said pin or nail to the similarlysituated pin4 or nail on the opposite post, thereby arranging the wire below the topmost rail, C, is then bent downward and caused to pass around the pin or nail, above one end of the lower rail, C, is then passed over the opposite pin or nail on the other post, then passed downward under one of the pins or nails under the lower rail, C, and is finally stretched under the lower rail, O, and secured to the lowermost pin or nail on the post to which the rst end of the 5o wire is attached. The wire is stretched so tightly between the posts that it cannot sag.

which is shorter than the post, a pair of hori: zontal rails, L, which have their ends mortised into the post I and vertical bar K, and wires M, which are stretched on the said panelsH in the same manner as previously described. One end of' each panel, H, is provided `with a 6o pair of hooks, U, adapted to engage the staples D at one end of the panelA, and the opposite end of each panel H is provided with similar staples.

P represents the terminal panel of the fence, which comprises a pair of vertical bars, R, a ,l pair of longitudinal rails, S, having their ends mortised into the bars R, and a wire, T, which l is stretched on the panel P in the samefman- Y ner as previously described. At each end of 7o the panel P is a pair of hooks, U,

The operation of building a fence witli my improved fence-panels is as follows: -The panel A is first arranged at the startingpoint of a fence and has its post B driven irmlyinto the ground. The intermediate panels Hare then arranged i'n series, one end of the first panel H being hooked to the keepers D at one end of the panel A, the hooked end of each adjacent panel H being engaged with the staples 8o or keepers O'at the opposing end of the adjacent panel. As the panels uH are arranged successively in line, they are secured against accidental displacement, and against being overturned by wind or animals, by driving their posts I firmly into the ground. kWhen the fence is arranged in a circular line, as

shown in Fig. l, so as toinclose ahaystack or other object,the panels H are employed until within a suitable distance of one end of the-9o panel A, and the terminal panel P is then arranged in the space between the opposing ends of the last panel H and the panel A, and `is secured in position by'engaging its hooksUA into the keepers on the ends of the said panels A and H.

When the fence is arranged in a straight line, and not in a circle, the panel P will be dispensed with and two of the panelsA will be employed, one at each end of the line of Ioo A fence.

A portable fence thus constructed is very cheap and simple, is strong and durable, may

be readily erected and as readily taken down and stored away when not in use.

The fence is thus composed of detachable panels, requiring but one panel having securingposts at each end. The other panels need have but one securing-post each, which post is inserted in the ground and stands at the opposite end to that attached to the startingpanel. The wire C in each panel keeps the posts and rails thereof bound closely together, so that the same cannot separateand can be much more quickly and readily attached than a number of longitudinal wires could.

The strands of wire are arranged in pairs, the members of which are equally distant from the adjacent rail above and below the same, so that the pull of the wire on the joint formed by the tenons of the rails and mortises of the posts will be at right angles to the latter, and the tenons will be held squarely in the mortises.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- The herein described fence, consisting of a starting-panel having posts at each end pointed at their lower ends forinsertion in the ground, and a number of similar panels having but one end post similarly pointed, the said panels being connected by hooks and staples at their meeting edges, and each panel composed of the mortised end posts and tcnoned rails fitted to each other without bolt or pin, and the continuous wire having one end secured to theA top of one of the end posts at E, running thence through the staple E on top of the other posts, and over the pins F, secured in the side of the posts, and having its lower end secured to the first end post vertically below its upper end, the strands of wireadjacent to each rail being at equal distances above and below the latter, substantially as specified.

In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afXed mysignature in presence ot' two witnesses.

JAMES HARRIS.

Witnesses:

W. M. SCOTT, Jas. C. GILLAsPY. 

